As a commuting cyclist also I am obsessed with the weather as well as my garden! We have a rain gauge where we me measure the rainfall every day . My dad calls east winds lazy 'cos they go straight through you rather than around! Dear flowering rose - what prompted your posting?

I planted my garlic in November as I always do, I had given up the ghost with nothing showing when last weekend (9 days ago) I saw the shoots coming through. No idea why they have taken so long this year, I was just about to go and buy some more but now I'm happy. Circumstances meant I was unable to put my broad neans in in November as I also do so they went in in January - no signs of life yet

Our buddleias have all been cultivated from wild growing ones we have found in athe areas around us - we have the most fantastic deep purple one and a white one, The council keep hacking back the white one which is growing in a fenced off bit along a main road but it keeps coming back every year I love this plant and so do the bees and butterflies

Sad you lost your tree bluelizard. Do you really want to replace it with something as you suggested it prevented you from growing anything beneath it? Maybe a total rethink of the area might help - do you really want a tree or might you consider other features? maybe post a photo?